Wash and soak the chana dal for 30 minutes. Drain.

Peel the lauki and cut into peices.

In a pressure cooker, heat ghee. Splutter cumin seeds along with the hing and bay leaf.

Add the onion and chilies and saute till wilted.

Add the ginger garlic paste and saute till the raw smell is gone.

Add the tomatoes and saute till it is totally mashed and oil starts floating on top.

Add the powders and saute for a minute.

Add in the drained daal and saute for five minutes. Add salt.

Now add the lauki, the water and close the lid. Cook for three whistles on hight flame and then on low flame for 15 minutes. Switch off and allow the pressure to go by itself.

Open the lid, add the garam malsala powder and kasuri methi and cook on simmer for 5 minutes. Add water, if required.

Serve hot with chapathis.